Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-03
CASH OF THE TREASURY,
THE AMOUNT OF THE SURPLUS
A MATTER OF DOUBT.

Senator Allison Claims That the Bal
ance for the Next Fiscal Year win
Not Exceed 9t5, 900, ,OOO-Mr. Beck of
the Opinion That There win Re Fully
@00,000,0O0 ON Hand.
AsuINGToN, FEB. 2.-The Senate at
l:l5 O'Clock to-day resumed consideration
Of the sundry civil appropriations bill.
Mr.. Allison, Chairman of the Commit
tee on Appropriations, said that the
Senator from Connecticut Mr.. Piatt)
bad inquired of him yesterday whether or
not there would be a surplus in the
Treasury in case Congress made appro-
priations this session in &C cordance with
The estimates Of The departments. In mis-
Mr.. AllisOn's( desire to complete the
bill last night he had failed to answer
that inquiry as fully as he might have
done. he then entered into an elaborate
argument to show that the surplus for the
ueXt focal year would be Yery small,
probably not exceeding $15,O00,000.
THE TOTALS.
TO reach this conclusion, Sir. Allison
said the estimates submitted amounted
to 1916 COO, eco. Since these estimates had
been made the Mexican pension and de-
pendent parents pension ellis had been
passed, which would add 1900, 900 to
the foregoing estimates ana other legisla-
tion calling for the expenditure or pubic
money, which would bring the total OF
the estimates to $395, 100000. against a
probable income of $410, 100000. In Mr..
AilIson's figures the postal receipts and
expenditures are included. The net
figures without these items would proba-
by be stated at $50,00O, 900 less on each
side OF the account. Curiously enough,
sad Mr. Allison, perhaps naturally
enough, the Secretary OF the Treas
ury this year makes no estimate
OF the revenue. 1t has been the custom
of former Secretaries OF the Treasury to
maze estimates of the revenue, giving
the actual returns for the first quarter Of
the year before Congress meets) and
estimating for the remainder of the year
and lOr the next fiscal year. A careful
examination OF the laws discloses the
fact that the Secretary of the Treasury Is
not bound TO make THESE estimates, so
that We can have no actual guide as to
what the revenue will be either for the
current year or for the next fiscal year,
except from the estimates made last year
ana from the receipts up to the first Of
January last.
THE SINKING FUND.
These statements were brought out by
a series OF questions from Messrs- Plat,
ingalls, and Morrill,, and Incidentally to
his statement Mr.. Allison took occasion
to criticse the policy OF lurther increas-
lag Tia sinking fund, which now exceeds
by $500 ,000, eco the amount required by
the law establishing it, especially il such
Increase must be made by the purchase III
open market of bonds held at u large pre-
MUM. Mr.. Allison stated that it had
never happened that Congress mad appro.
pTiated to the lui amount OF the
estimates, and probably would not
In this case, and he conceded
that after the appropriations had
teen made the surplus might amount TO
S6U,GOO, goo, but not more. MIR. Piatt then
sand: Nov il we are no. to have for the
next fiscal year surplus exceeding
S5O, 600, 900 | want to be reckoned as an
opponent Of any scheme that will lessen
that surplus, and l don't want this Con-
gress TO adjourn until it has provided IN
some way that sum equal or nearly
equal to $50, 600, 600 shall be immediately
available TO commence a system of coast
defenses.
AN IMPERATIVE DUTY.
''i think that Congress will be negli-
gent OF its duty, will be justly and severe
ly criticised by the people, and will have
forgotten the OesL in erests OF the country
il it shall adjourn without having made
such u provision, and !, for one, want to
be counted as an opponent OF any scneDe
that will reduce the revenues OF this gov
eminent TO point where there will not
be plenty of money TO inaugurate and
carry on most vigorously thorough sys-
tenn of coast defenses."
Mr.. Beck took exception to Mr.. ALI
sons figures, and held TO the opinion that
the surplus will be- found to be nearer
800, ,0O0.000 than 10000, 600.
Mir. Teller also spoke upon the defense
less condition OF our entire coast, and
said it was entirely possible for any one of
half dozen nations whom he named to
abolish at once our surplus by sending a
few vessels to New YORK or San Francisco
and demanding the contents OF the sub
treasurles as a ransom of these cities
upOu The alternative Of destroying them
by bombardment. The bill was then re-
rnrfnl the Snnntp and naSSad